Product Description

Behold a Virgin Bearing Him Silent Night The First Nowell

World Library Publications is proud to reissue this lost recording of Bing Crosby!Sometime in 1955, Omer Westendorf (founder of World Library of Sacred Music) wrote to several famous Catholics to find a narrator for a recording project. Among those names were Loretta Young, Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, Rocky Marciano, and Bing Crosby. Bishop Sheen replied that he was too busy, and there were no replies from Ms Young and Mr Marciano. Bing Crosby made inquiries about World Library of Sacred Music through the Los Angeles Chancery Office. He made no formal reply and just sent a tape of the narration. Bing made the recording on August 6, 1956, and sent it to Omer Westendorf in Cincinnati. Where the narration was recorded is unknown. The organ background was provided by Betty Zins Reiber, a longtime editor at WLP. According to Bing Enterprises/HLC Properties LLC, Bing donated his services and did not accept any payment. The music on the album was arranged by Han Van Koert (1913–1976). The complete score of the album was published by WLP in 1958.The recording of Bing Crosby reading the Gospel of Luke 2:4—20 has not been used in any other project and is exclusive to World Library Publications.The original album, “The Bible Story of Christmas,” was released in December 1957 with a retail price of $4.98. A thousand copies were ordered and seven prints exist in the WLP Archive in Franklin Park, Illinois. The distribution was limited to Cincinnati, Ohio.This is the 60th anniversary of the original release. While not a contemporary offering, we wanted to make this available to everyone.

Sixty years ago, American icon Bing Crosby loaned his famous baritone voice to unify traditional carols with the spoken narration of Luke 2:4-20. This album, originally published in 1957, is a re-release of the World Library Publications archive.

Track List:1. Behold a Virgin Bearing Him2. Silent Night3. The First Nowell4. A Child is Born in Bethlehem5. Angels We Have Heard on High6. O Come, Little Children7. Welcome, Son of Mary8. O Come, All Ye Faithful/Adeste, Fidelis9. Narration of Luke 2: 4—20 by Bing Crosby (without music)